20 Mar 2025

Lekoba does not qualify to be a recognised settlement but rather remain as agricultural land.

Minister of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Mr Ketlhalefile Motshegwa said this while answering a question in Parliament yesterday. Mr Motshegwa shared that Tonota District Council in collaboration with other local level structures carried out an assessment to determine if Lekoba could be recognised as a settlement .

“It is important to note that the settlement was subjected to a number of parameters that have been set to determine if it can be recognised or upgraded, as per the National Settlement Policy of 2004,” he said.

Mr Motshegwa indicated that such parameters included history of the settlement, population size, geographical location of the settlement relative to other recognised settlements, economic viability, environmental viability, proximity of service center, land use tenure and physical infrastructure.

He said that these parameters were also used alongside the other policies and plans developed to manage settlement growth, land use and natural resources management within the district.

“At the time of assessment in 2021, the population was 287 people, which fell way below the minimum population of 500 or more, which is the minimum threshold set as per the National Settlement Policy of 2004,” he said.

Mr Motshegwa noted that other major factors for consideration were that the land use within which the settlement is located, is predominantly agricultural land and as per the National Settlement Policy provides, such fertile land should be preserved for production.

“The current land use also conforms to the Central District Land Use Plan. The population in Lekoba and Housing Census of 2022, which disqualifies it because a RAD settlement requires a population of 250,” he said.

He further noted that, Lekoba is currently accessing services from Mabesekwa, which is 11km away and also a Rural Area Dweller Settlement.

“All social protection services are provided through service providers on monthly basis or as and when required. Health care services are equally provided through monthly mobile service to inhabitants of Lekoba,” he said.

Minister Motshegwa was responding to a question from the MP for Shashe West, Mr Jeremiah Frenzel, who wanted to understand the factors contributing to delays in recognising Lekoba as a settlement. ENDS